Limerick People – Nigel Dugdalehttp://nigeldugdale.ie
Limerick News Blog Wed, 14 Mar 2018 14:57:54 +0000en-GBhourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.7.9http://nigeldugdale.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/nigeldugdale-1-150x150.jpgLimerick People – Nigel Dugdalehttp://nigeldugdale.ie
3232My love affair with Boojum has brought me homehttp://nigeldugdale.ie/2018/03/14/boojum-limerick-story/
http://nigeldugdale.ie/2018/03/14/boojum-limerick-story/#respondWed, 14 Mar 2018 14:51:32 +0000http://nigeldugdale.ie/?p=2251Susan Angley walks up to me the Boojum restaurant in the heart of Limerick city. With a beaming smile it’s clear she is proud of this place. And rightfully so. As a born and bred Limerick girl, she has found herself acting in the role of Area Manager for Republic of Ireland West at a …

]]>Susan Angley walks up to me the Boojum restaurant in the heart of Limerick city. With a beaming smile it’s clear she is proud of this place. And rightfully so. As a born and bred Limerick girl, she has found herself acting in the role of Area Manager for Republic of Ireland West at a time when Boojum’s new Limerick investment is proving to be a hit in her home town.

One could say that fate had a role to play in Susan’s Boojum journey.

Susan Angley, pictured in Boojum, which has been open in Patrick Street for a little over a month Picture: Gareth Williams

Originally from Woodview in Limerick Susan studied social care in LIT. Her graduation came at the worst possible time. Ireland’s boom had ended and the HSE were forced to issue an embargo on the hiring of any new staff.

“I suppose at the time I could have explored other avenues, but my field of interest was specifically in residential care, an area where work was really difficult to find”, she tells me.

After spending some time working in the food industry in Limerick, it was matters of the heart that introduced Susan to the Boojum experience.

“My partner had found a job in Galway working for Oracle. I found myself commuting up and down from Limerick regularly. It was during these visits that I discovered Boojum for the first time.

“Every time I ate there I was blown away by the staff. The food was exceptional, but the staff consistently stood out for me”, Susan says.

“Boojum made me question and assess my own customer manner. The effect the Boojum staff had on my day every time I visited was so refreshing that I decided to write an email to Boojum telling them of my positive experience. A few weeks later I received an email thanking me for my feedback but thought nothing more of it”.

Eventually Susan decided that a Galway move might be best. Her plan was to use the new location as a means of re-starting her search for social care work when suddenly a job came up with Boojum. She applied and a few weeks later was called to interview.

“At the interview I was asked a question along the lines of ‘have you eaten here often?’. I told them of my experience and the fact that I had been inspired to send them an email. Suddenly there was silence at the other side of the interview desk”.

Susan’s email had been noted. So much so that it was circulated across the company.

“There were prizes given to staff; the email was pasted in staff areas around the country. Suddenly here I was interviewing for the role of General Manager for the very same store that had given me such a great experience”.

Susan got the job in November 2014. She received what she describes as ‘the most incredible 5-week training programme in Dublin’. Suddenly what had been a search for interim work began to become something more serious.

“My career path was taking a sudden but welcome turn”, she says. “My experience of Boojum in Galway not only made me believe in Boojum as a brand but also convinced me that I was on to something good. I suddenly found myself making the move to Galway”.

Susan’s clear passion for the Boojum brand is palpable. She keeps noting three traits as the catalyst for her life changing career move.

“Boojum is about honest, fresh food. It’s friendly. It’s chilled out”, she says. “Our commitment to freshness is second to none. This fresh ethos is why I’m working for the company”.

Boojum doesn’t use freezers. Doesn’t do microwaves. All staff learn about the food, how it is prepared and how the slightest deviation can affect the taste the company strives to maintain. The staff ethos is fostered from the top down.

“I have never worked anywhere like it before”, she notes. “Despite now being considered a big Irish food brand it still has that small family owned feel about it”, she says.

Boojum’s David Maxwell

“You don’t find many places where the MD is open to sit and have a glass of wine with the parents of a staff member. David Maxwell is a real leader. I’d have no problem giving him a call if ever I needed advice or if something was concerning me. Equally David would have no problem taking that call. If you work for our team, at any level, you will feel part of the Boojum family”.

The Irish palate has undergone something of a sea change over the past decade. Gone are the days of the meat and two veg; bacon and cabbage approach to Irish eating habits. Susan puts this down to the fact that Irish people are more travelled than ever before.

“I can even see it in my own home over recent years where Mum and Dad would arrive home with shopping bags full of foodie bits that never were thought of when I was a kid. There’s a huge movement in Ireland when it comes to being open to trying new tastes or styles of food and dining experiences”, she adds.

“Look at Boojum. We don’t do the traditional ‘table for two’ style of dining. This is communal seating. This is a about a social dining experience”.

The Boojum story is remarkable. Since being founded by John and Karen Blisard in Belfast back just 10 years ago, the company now boasts 6 stores in Dublin, 5 restaurants in Dublin as well as more recent additions to Galway, Cork and now Limerick. In 2015 the brand was acquired by Andrew and David Maxwell supported by a private equity firm. So, what makes it work?

“I encourage people to just try it once. Once you set foot inside the door you will get it. We put a huge emphasis on hiring the right people. We have one simple rule – to work here you must be ‘sound’. After that we can train you in any role. The impression that the staff make on our customers is so important.”.

Boojum’s Limerick restaurant. Photo: True Media

This emphasis on staff training shines through when you experience a Boojum restaurant. Last year the group came 11th in the Medium Sized Business category of the Great Places to Work awards last year. This year Boojum are entering the awards again. The growth of the company has been such that they have now been promoted to the Large Workplace category.

“Our team are constantly looking a what makes Boojum a great place to work and to identify areas where we can consistently improve. If we can achieve a sense of contentment in the workplace then that immediately is reflected in the customer experience”.

The Boojum menu is small but is designed to allow our customers to design a meal to suit their own personal taste. For some, the first visit to Boojum might be slightly daunting. You are presented with a 4-step menu. A slick preparation operation will walk you through the steps and suddenly you find yourself at a pay point with a freshly prepared meal ready to go.

“Our staff are trained to recognise a repeat customer who knows the ropes of Boojum. Equally a new customer will be guided through the process to ensure the experience is a rewarding one. If you are not sure – just ask us for a taste”, Susan says.

The new Limerick store is in many ways a sign of the wheel turning full circle for Susan Angley. When she left Limerick to start working for Boojum the city was coming to the end of its year as National City of Culture in 2014. So has she noticed a change in the city?

“Since coming back to help with Boojum Limerick set-up I can certainly see a resurgence of life in the city centre. What has struck me the most is the fact that I realised just how proud I am of my home town. With that comes huge pride in being part of the team who are bringing Boojum to my home town”, Susan says.

Queues forming at Boojum Limerick during its recent opening

The Boojum team have been particularly touched by the welcome they have received in Limerick. In the lead up to our opening some of the head office team were based in Limerick for a few days.

“One evening we were getting a taxi through town”, Susan tells me. “When the taxi driver realised we were there to open a new restaurant, he waved the fare. That simply wouldn’t happen anywhere else”.

Boojum has developed a huge student fan base in Belfast, Dublin, Galway and Cork. Since opening in Limerick this key demographic of the Boojum clientele has proved to be loyal.

Susan notes that with so many choices now out there in the Limerick food market they have worked very hard to attract students into the city centre.

“As we develop customer loyalty with these students we also hope that other city centre business benefit from this new footfall. There are students who attend UL for four years and only ever experience Limerick city late at night when they hit the popular clubs. The Boojum presence has the potential to be a key student attraction”, she adds.

Having also been part of the team who opened the Boojum restaurant in Cork last year, Susan confirms that the reaction to the new Limerick restaurant has taken the company by surprise. To the point that they company had to transfer extra staff from other stores to help meet the demand.

“I am so proud that we have been given such a welcome and really look forward to playing my part here in the coming years. I can see myself moving back to Limerick by the end of the year, so in a sense, my love affair with Boojum has brought me home!”

]]>http://nigeldugdale.ie/2018/03/14/boojum-limerick-story/feed/0Limerick actress Michelle Fox lands regular role on BBC’s Casualty serieshttp://nigeldugdale.ie/2017/10/11/limerick-actress-michelle-fox-lands-bbcs-casualty-series-role/
http://nigeldugdale.ie/2017/10/11/limerick-actress-michelle-fox-lands-bbcs-casualty-series-role/#respondWed, 11 Oct 2017 12:00:30 +0000http://nigeldugdale.ie/?p=2184Limerick actress, Michelle Fox has just been cast as a regular in the popular BBC drama Casualty and is also filming a new series alongside Hugh Grant. In 2010 Limerick Youth Theatre presented ‘Women in Power’, Kenneth McLeish’s adaptation of Aristophane’s ‘Women in Assembly’. The poster for the show was captivating. Central to the poster …

]]>Limerick actress, Michelle Fox has just been cast as a regular in the popular BBC drama Casualty and is also filming a new series alongside Hugh Grant.

In 2010 Limerick Youth Theatre presented ‘Women in Power’, Kenneth McLeish’s adaptation of Aristophane’s ‘Women in Assembly’. The poster for the show was captivating.

The poster for Limerick Youth Theatre’s production of Women in Power featuring Michelle Fox

Central to the poster was an image that featured Michelle Fox, a young actress from Caherdavin. With crimson hair, striking cheekbones and eyes that hypnotised there was something about Fox that meant business. Her performance in the youth theatre production exuded an energy that got people talking.

A review of the show in Irish Theatre Magazine at the time singled out Fox’s performance as: “Humorous, articulate, sly and manipulative but well intentioned……..expertly performed by Fox. Imparting all these characteristics with subtlety and skill, Fox is a bit of a show”.

If I was a betting man I would have put a few quid on Michelle Fox going on to make a name for herself. Seven years on she is doing just that.

I took some time to chat with Michelle and discovered a young Limerick talent who has quietly gone about her business in the world of acting with results that would be the envy of many.

Fox is the youngest in her family and sees this as one of the reasons for the entertainer in her coming to the fore.

Her first introduction to Limerick audiences was with Barespace Theatre Company in 2008 where she played Little Red Riding Hood in this critically acclaimed production of Sondheim’s ‘Into the Woods’ at the Belltable.

This experience was one that stood to her. She describes her school days as difficult.

“I struggled to fit in at school as a young girl. The world of theatre was an escape for me. I must say that Limerick Youth Theatre was a particular saviour for me in my teens. I made lifelong friends there and the whole experience convinced me that I wanted to go into acting”, she says.

The impact she made at Limerick Youth Theatre not only convinced Limerick audiences that she had a talent. The experience she took from those early days convinced her to pursue drama as a career.

At the age of 17 she decided to study Drama and Spanish degree in UCC.

“Moving down to Cork was quite daunting at first but I fell in love with Cork in the end. It gave me huge independence and that’s helped through this roller coaster that being a working actor is”, Fox notes.

With graduation from UCC came a moment of panic for Fox.

“You feel a bit lost after University ends and I wanted a big change. London was always a big acting hub for me so I packed my bags and made the move”, she says.

Fox in BBC 3’s production of Overshadowed

“When I first arrived, I felt a bit lost- not knowing where to start or who to contact. A friend suggested auditioning for Drama schools so that’s what I did. I was lucky enough to get into Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and the training I received there was invaluable. There are lots of ways to get involved in acting but drama school worked for me”.

Fox graduated from the Bristol Old Vic last year and success started to come her way. She was cast in a one-off episode of BBC’s Doctors and then went on to be cast in a theatre tour of Medea.

“During the run of Medea I auditioned for the lead in a new BBC series called Overshadowed and managed to get the part”, she tells me.

“It’s about a Youtube blogger who develops anorexia over the course of the show. It was hard but rewarding to film and it came out last Sunday. It’s been really well received and I’m glad of what we achieved. It also helped me to get my foot in the door so to speak so I’m grateful for that”.

In fact, her performance of Overshadowed resulted in the London newspaper Metro featuring her as part of their Ones to Watch series.

Fox’s star is now quickly on the rise. She has recently been cast as a series regular on Casualty, a show that boasts audience figures of over 4.3 million.

“I’m playing a gutsy junior doctor called Bea”, she says.

“It’s been great filming so far but I’m still getting my head round the medical jargon!”.

Fox will appear alongside Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw in A Very English Scandal

Away from filming Casualty she is also current filming ‘A very English Scandal’ for BBC 1. Starring alongside Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw, and directed by Stephen Frears the new show is about the Jeremy Thorpe scandal in the 1960’s.

Fox says she is particularly influenced as an actor by women who write their own material.

“Women like Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag), Michaela Coel (Chewing Gum) and Eva O’ Connor (Overshadowed) are all people who I admire”, she notes.

“Parts for women have always been lacking. No one wants to just play the mother/sister/girlfriend to the male protagonist all the time so sometimes we have to write our own TV/Theatre to show how diverse and brilliant women can be. I’m liking the way things are slowly but surely turning around”.

Fox has been based in London for over 4 years but this Caherdavin girl has never lost her love for home.

“I’m a homebird and miss home a lot so I try to get back as often as I can”, she says.

“I love Limerick- the people, the pubs, the craic have always lured me back. Can’t miss out on pints in Tom Collins and strolling through the market on a Saturday! My schedule is a bit crazy at the moment but the next time I have a few days off, you can be sure I’ll be on a flight back to Shannon”.

Michelle Fox is in the process of filming her first scenes this month and is likely to make her on screen Casualty debut towards the end of the year. A Very English Scandal is also likely to hit BBC 1 in Spring 2018.

]]>http://nigeldugdale.ie/2017/10/11/limerick-actress-michelle-fox-lands-bbcs-casualty-series-role/feed/0Kamal Ibrahim releases powerful new mental health videohttp://nigeldugdale.ie/2017/09/07/kamal-ibrahim-mental-health/
http://nigeldugdale.ie/2017/09/07/kamal-ibrahim-mental-health/#respondThu, 07 Sep 2017 09:02:25 +0000http://nigeldugdale.ie/?p=2103Described as one of this year’s ‘most powerful mental health awareness videos’ ‘If Only’ has been produced by Ibrahim and released to coincide with World Suicide Awareness Day 2017. A powerful short film, written, produced and directed by former Mr World, Limerick-man Kamal Ibrahim has been released today. ‘If Only’ is the title of the project which …

]]>Described as one of this year’s ‘most powerful mental health awareness videos’ ‘If Only’ has been produced by Ibrahim and released to coincide with World Suicide Awareness Day 2017.

A powerful short film, written, produced and directed by former Mr World, Limerick-man Kamal Ibrahim has been released today.

Kamal Ibrahim

‘If Only’ is the title of the project which has seen Navan-based Psychotherapist Melissa Carroll team up with Ibrahim.

The film follows two characters Luke and Kayla on the day they both decide to end their lives yet despite the dark storyline the film has been described by mental health professionals as “Intelligent, insightful and perceptive” and “a beautifully nuanced short film that captures and evokes the silent spectre of suicidal ideation.”

‘If Only’ includes contributions from singer/songwriter Derek Ellard and composer Ger Fahy who is also known for composing the score of Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance; Dangerous Games. The lyrics to the soundtrack of the film were also written by Melissa Carroll.

The film has also received the full support of mental health organizations Aware and Samaritans.

‘If Only’ was produced to continue the raising of awareness of mental health issues in Ireland with an aim to direct the public and those in need of help to organisations who are providing help and support in that area.

The production team also hope, where possible, to raise funds both directly and indirectly for groups and organisations so they may continue to carry out the fantastic work that they do.

Speaking after the launch of the short film, producer & director Kamal Ibrahim said: “We talk about depression and we talk about suicide but this film is really about the power of intervention.

“Depression isn’t a weakness, if fact, these challenges in life that make us depressed ultimately help make us stronger. We must persevere to find our strength in the blackness of our lowest point.”

Kamal spoke publicly about his own experiences with mental health on the Claire Byrne show in 2015 and continues to contribute his time to organizations working in that space.

The film was shot in Navan town where it will be shown again on September 10th as part of a fundraiser for various mental health organizations.

World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) is an awareness day observed on 10 September every year, in order to provide worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides, with various activities around the world.

The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), collaborates with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Federation for Mental Health, to host World Suicide Prevention Day.

Full details on Suicide Ireand services can be found at http://www.suicideireland.com/

This film is our contribution to the on-going conversation about Mental Health in the lead up to World Suicide Prevention Day.It highlights the importance of intervention for anyone struggling with depression or suicidal ideation.Watch it, share it and let's have the conversation.A huge thank you to Navan based Psycotherapist Melissa Carroll, who started this whole process back in April this year and for her outstanding contributions to the film. Check out Melissa's new vlog channel on mental health here – www.youtube.com/channel/UCygGOrFoz3-Ej60xHbj8WtA#Mentalhealth #suicideprevention #intervention #havetheconversation #Worldsuicidepreventionday

]]>http://nigeldugdale.ie/2017/09/07/kamal-ibrahim-mental-health/feed/0Homelessness in Limerick – small gestures make a differencehttp://nigeldugdale.ie/2017/09/06/homelessness-limerick-small-gestures-make-difference/
http://nigeldugdale.ie/2017/09/06/homelessness-limerick-small-gestures-make-difference/#respondWed, 06 Sep 2017 12:24:45 +0000http://nigeldugdale.ie/?p=2099The current levels of homelessness reported in Ireland are cause for great worry. What is fast becoming an epidemic in Dublin has yet to make its presence fully noticed on the streets of Limerick. This city certainly has no reason to be complacent. Quite often, problems seen in Dublin take a little while before they …

]]>The current levels of homelessness reported in Ireland are cause for great worry. What is fast becoming an epidemic in Dublin has yet to make its presence fully noticed on the streets of Limerick. This city certainly has no reason to be complacent. Quite often, problems seen in Dublin take a little while before they become fully apparent in Limerick.

Something that has given me great heart over recent months has been some of the interactions I have seen between members of the public and those who find themselves in a position where begging on the street is the only option.

There are many who see beggars on our city’s streets as a scourge. There are those who call for the city to be ‘cleaned up’ of this nuisance. Others find it intimidating.

You don’t have to travel far to see what true homelessness means within a functioning urban environment. Dublin’s crisis makes homelessness far more visible than in Limerick. It is almost commonplace for large central parts of European cities to see shop doors filled with those sleeping rough night after night.

For some of us who have a relatively comfortable lifestyle we don’t like to see the reality of homelessness flaunted before our eyes. Perhaps it is an unwelcome reminder of how lucky we are. Some of us want to help but question if a €2 donation into a proffered cup will be spent suitably. I’m sure there is a certain percentage who look at a homeless individual with a certain distain.

The death of Louise Casey last year in the city was a stark reminder of Limerick’s homeless situation

Two years ago, I got to know one of Limerick’s homeless. He was a guy you would see on the city streets begging, mostly in the same spot. What started with the odd offer of a cigarette then became a chat. Some days it would just be a quick hello; other days would result in deeper interaction.

I was one of those who questioned whether the price of a cup of tea would be spent differently. I had trust issues. Over time I realised this young guy had found himself in a hopeless scenario. Most of all I fully realised how human he was.

He could hold a conversation. He would open up now and again about his issues. Yes, heroin was a demon but he was trying to fight it. He was a nice guy. I liked to think our occasional chats were of value to him, even more than the single cigarette or couple of coins sitting in my back pocket.

A few months ago, I had noticed I hadn’t seen him in a while. I often wondered if he was ok and regretted ever asking him his name (homeless people do have names). Then one day, on the same street on which he used to sit, he reappeared. This time he was different. Instead of sitting outside the barriers of the local cafe, he was now a paying customer.

He was with a friend. He looked well. He smiled and acknowledged me. I didn’t need to interact any further. He was doing well. We now see each other every other day and always say hi. I don’t need to know the ins and outs of how he overcame his problems, I’m just inspired by the possibility.

I don’t tell this story to give myself credit. I tell it because I have witnessed many others of late who have found their own connections with some of our homeless community. I have seen women regularly bring a cup of tea. I have seen others sit at their level and chat. I have seen local business owners treat them with respect.

The homeless crisis won’t be solved overnight. It will be something we will see more and more of in Limerick. Many of us feel powerless to help. Perhaps we have more power than we think.

Consider forming a connection with a homeless person you see every day. Consider smiling at them. Consider a quick chat.

]]>http://nigeldugdale.ie/2017/09/06/homelessness-limerick-small-gestures-make-difference/feed/0Time to consider public transport as a real option for Limerick commutershttp://nigeldugdale.ie/2017/08/29/time-consider-public-transport-real-option-limerick-commuters/
http://nigeldugdale.ie/2017/08/29/time-consider-public-transport-real-option-limerick-commuters/#respondTue, 29 Aug 2017 14:20:19 +0000http://nigeldugdale.ie/?p=2073Sitting outside the Hunt Museum recently I took some time to watch afternoon traffic approaching the city from Corbally and Castletroy. It doesn’t take a traffic engineer to realise the main point of entry to the City, at the Locke Bar and Opera site, struggles to deal with the level of traffic at its current …

]]>Sitting outside the Hunt Museum recently I took some time to watch afternoon traffic approaching the city from Corbally and Castletroy. It doesn’t take a traffic engineer to realise the main point of entry to the City, at the Locke Bar and Opera site, struggles to deal with the level of traffic at its current level.

A similar look at Sexton Street, Colbert Station, O’Connell Avenue and the Dock Road tells the same story.

Morning traffic on Dock Road in Limerick

Limerick is a city of car users. Yet the city and its suburbs are not sprawling. The distances required to get from one side of the city are not massive. As a city dweller who walks almost everywhere I cannot understand why people make decisions to sit in cars day after day as they commune to work.

In this column, over recent months I have tried to understand why Limerick has failed to embrace the concept of public transport. I have lamented the vision of single occupancy cars line our access routes. I have bemoaned the fact that our bus lanes don’t allow our public transport system to flow through our city via uninterrupted bus lanes.

Getting around Limerick is a bit of a chicken and egg scenario. Our population, for the most part, doesn’t see public transport as a viable option and choose the car instead. The powers behind making decision about our public transport provision question the level of usage in the city and fail to provide adequate services.

In two years’ time, we should see 750 new jobs created in the city with the completion of the International Gardens. Other similar projects will see completion not long after.

Trends tell us that Ireland’s population is increasing and, even without significant development, Limerick will have its share of this increase. We are cheaper than Dublin, Cork or Galway. There are jobs being created here.

It is crucial, therefore, that we begin to think carefully about our city’s future in terms of how we move around.

Yesterday the local authority announced that it has partnered with the National Transport Authority to develop a new Transport Strategy for the city.

According to Limerick City and County Council, the purpose of this is to ‘deliver an integrated Transport Strategy for the Limerick City region and to promote and encourage sustainable transport’.

The announcement by the council must be welcomed. The new strategy, which will commence next year, will consider all transportation modes including walking, cycling, buses, coaches, Bus Rapid Transit Systems (BRTS), light rail, heavy rail, car sharing and private cars in developing a comprehensive transport strategy for the Limerick City region.

A few weeks ago, eyebrows were raised when James Ring, CEO of Limerick Chamber, announced his team would be lobbying Irish Rail with a view to opening suburban stations on the outskirts of Limerick city along with park-and-ride facilities to improve ease of access to the city centre.

Some likened Ring’s comments as akin to the famous Simpson’s Monorail episode. Is it that radical an idea, however?

The fact is this. Limerick does not do public transport well. The local authority recently completed works around the station and Davis St without the provision for quality cycle lanes. Our existing bus routes don’t sufficiently serve the places that need them most. Anyone who does use a bus knows that, as you approach the city, bus lanes become secondary to the car.

The development of Limerick will happen faster than we think. The fact that the local authority is now planning to develop a new transport strategy must be welcomed. However, one could fear such a strategy might cost a fortune and take years to implement.

Here’s a few thoughts to start:

Remember Dublin’s City imps?

Could we pilot a project, with the support of the National Transport Authority, where every city-based company offers employees 5 days public transport for free? The cost per employee would be approximately €15 per week.

Could we get the same companies to team up with the likes of Limerick’s new car sharing option GoCar should employees need the momentary use of a car during working hours?

Could we provide dedicated park and ride facilities for one year at the 4 key entry points to the city?

Could we provide a number of ‘City Imp’ style buses that circle the city centre on a regular basis daily? Such a move might incentivise urban workers to ditch the car.

James Ring’s comments recently may have sounded crazy to the majority of Limerick commuters but at least he is proffering an alternative. We know the city centre is currently treated like Silverstone. That needs to change. We need to move quickly or face a nightmare in terms of how traffic moves in Limerick.

The biggest quick win result we could have in this city is to make our population consider public transport as option.

]]>http://nigeldugdale.ie/2017/08/29/time-consider-public-transport-real-option-limerick-commuters/feed/0Gala evening celebrates Yeats and Henry Exhibition opening at The Hunt Museumhttp://nigeldugdale.ie/2017/06/02/yeats-henry-exhibition-opens-hunt-museum/
http://nigeldugdale.ie/2017/06/02/yeats-henry-exhibition-opens-hunt-museum/#respondFri, 02 Jun 2017 14:56:43 +0000http://nigeldugdale.ie/?p=1907To celebrate the opening of ‘Jack B. Yeats and Paul Henry: Contrasting Visions of Ireland’, The Hunt Museum held a private preview of the exhibition on Thursday June 1st followed by Black Tie Gala Dinner in association with The Savoy Hotel. The Hunt’s summer exhibition is a unique event bringing together two of Ireland’s most …

]]>To celebrate the opening of ‘Jack B. Yeats and Paul Henry: Contrasting Visions of Ireland’, The Hunt Museum held a private preview of the exhibition on Thursday June 1st followed by Black Tie Gala Dinner in association with The Savoy Hotel.

The Hunt’s summer exhibition is a unique event bringing together two of Ireland’s most important 20th century artists. Billed to be a show of both national and international significance, ‘Jack B. Yeats and Paul Henry: Contrasting Visions of Ireland’ features 51 works, many of which are normally unavailable for public viewing, and brings together a collection drawn from private and public collections including works from the European Investment Bank Collection in Luxembourg.

On June 1st, Chairman of The Hunt Museum, John Moran, and Head of Collections and Exhibitions, Naomi O’Nolan, welcomed guests to the private preview of the exhibition, the first ever black tie event at the museum in its 20 year history at the Custom House building in Limerick’s city centre.

This unique exhibition features two of Ireland’s most important 20th century artists side by side. Featuring rarely seen paintings borrowed from mostly private collections, this unique event will encourage visitors to see Ireland through the eyes of two very different artists working before, during and after the establishment of the Irish Free State.

Speaking at the announcement of the exhibition earlier this year Dom Patrick Hederman of Glenstal Abbey said: “They were practically contemporaries. Paul Henry was about six years younger than Jack Yeats and they died within a year of each other. Paul Henry was what might be called a postimpressionist. He went to the Achill Islands and was able to capture Irish landscape and the specific kind of lighting that Ireland enjoys, and how you could put those on a canvas and what the colour scheme would be. They’re beautiful but it became standardized so he wasn’t as experimental as Jack Yeats and I think the fascinating thing is both of them were painting the same kinds of scenes that we all see around us.”

In their distinctive ways, both Yeats and Henry offer an insight into the Ireland of their day, the newly independent Ireland, its landscapes and seascapes and the ways of life of its people.

For the first time this exhibition allows the visitor to compare the work of these two major artists, their constructions of the New Ireland and their distinctive representations of its terrain and its people.

Dom Hederman added, “This exhibition is going to be very important, and just while they’re developing the Wild Atlantic Way for tourists, they’re also trying to develop a cultural way which would take in Sligo, and Lady Gregory’s Estate at Coole Park, all that area down to here including the Hunt Museum. Here will be the culmination of all their peregrinations when they arrive for this exhibition so thank you to all who have organized it.”

Metropolitan Mayor of Limerick Michael Hourigan applauded the ambition to bring a collection such as this to The Hunt Museum, and Roisin Kennedy of UCD who wrote the essay for the exhibition catalogue highlighted the uniqueness of the exhibition and explained that these works will likely never again be exhibited together so urged everyone to savour the experience.

Proceeds raised from the event will help support The Hunt Museum’s expanding Education and Community Engagement Programmes.

Jack B. Yeats and Paul Henry: Contrasting Visions of Ireland is open to the public from June 2nd to September 30th 2017 in The Hunt Museum, Limerick City.

]]>http://nigeldugdale.ie/2017/06/02/yeats-henry-exhibition-opens-hunt-museum/feed/0Pigtown Food Series to celebrate Limerick’s Food Culture.http://nigeldugdale.ie/2017/05/30/pigtown-food-series-celebrate-limericks-food-culture/
http://nigeldugdale.ie/2017/05/30/pigtown-food-series-celebrate-limericks-food-culture/#respondTue, 30 May 2017 13:25:35 +0000http://nigeldugdale.ie/?p=1898This autumn, the Pigtown Food Series is taking over Limerick in an exciting celebration of Limerick’s Food Culture. Inspired by the history of Limerick’s famous bacon industry, the ‘Pigtown Culture and Food Series’ is an exciting new programme of themed events happening in September and October 2017 in Limerick. Developed by the Limerick Food Group …

]]>This autumn, the Pigtown Food Series is taking over Limerick in an exciting celebration of Limerick’s Food Culture. Inspired by the history of Limerick’s famous bacon industry, the ‘Pigtown Culture and Food Series’ is an exciting new programme of themed events happening in September and October 2017 in Limerick.

Developed by the Limerick Food Group and supported by Fáilte Ireland, the series will focus on Limerick’s unique heritage as a way to showcase the great food available locally, building on their deep-rooted food heritage.

The series features events such as the Culture Night Pig Parade; ‘Beyond the Pig – veganism in a meat eaters world’ panel discussion; ‘Ancient Irish food – what did our ancestors grow, pick and catch’ lecture and discussion and Urban Foraging Walks by local author and ethnobotanist Theresa Storey; Valerie O’Connor’s ‘Pig in the City’ food trail; Pigtown Tasting Menu produced by students of LIT’s Food and Tourism Department; and ‘The Apprentice – Pigtown Style’ hosted by Garretts Butchers where Limerick Butcher Apprentices will compete against visiting international craft butcher apprentices to be crowned the Pigtown Champion.

Local historian and author Tom Toomey will give a lecture on the food history of the City: ‘Pigtown Roots, Ranks and Cleeves factories – their rise and downfall’, followed by a panel discussion with Joe Hayes of the Limerick Pork Butchers Society.

The popular Saturday Morning demos in the Milk Market Kitchen will have a pig and harvest flavour in butchery skills and cooking, with everything from Limerick-style pulled pork, to ‘The Pig from Nose to Tail’, Preserving the Harvest, and Sausage making. The demonstrations are given by a host of Limerick producers, chefs and food writers.

Other events include historical talks and walks recounting the time when Limerick’s bacon factories fed Ireland and exported as far away as Russia; farm visits to O’Brien Artisan Cheese in Ballyhahill to hear tales of Jim O’Brien’s 20 years in the pig trade before becoming a cheesemaker; and ‘A Pig’s Tale’ ceramic exhibition hosted by Limerick Ceramic Artists, as well as UL Drama Society’s performance of the acclaimed ‘Pigtown’ by Limerick playwright Mike Finn.

Restaurants and hotels across Limerick will be embracing the theme featuring Pigtown specials and events including the Pig Celebration Gourmet Evening by Chef Tim Harris at No1 Pery Square, and ‘A Nose To Tail Tasting Dinner’ at The Limerick Strand Hotel by Chef Tom Flavin. A Limerick Pigtown Neighbourhood Fest will take place in partnership with the ‘95 Stop Tour’ charity drive encouraging street pig-nics throughout the county.

Some of the cities attractions are hot to trot too with The Frank McCourt Museum incorporating a Limerick Ham tasting and pin-the-tail-on-the-pig children’s game. Primary schools are being urged to get involved with the aim of getting Limerick’s children interested in food heritage and culture with posters, colour-in pig masks for the Pig Parade and craft ideas all to be available.

John Mulcahy, Fáilte Ireland’s Head of Food Tourism commented: “I am delighted to welcome this great initiative for Limerick as the Pigtown Culture and Food Series is very much rooted in the city’s food history and will (literally) add an authentic flavour to the visitor experience. Food and local authenticity are an essential part of the overall visitor experience to Ireland. Indeed, good local food can impact destination choice, so it’s important that when visitors arrive they receive a quality food experience that is representative of the area throughout their stay. With visitors to Ireland spending some €2billion on food every year, it is our job in the tourism industry to ensure we put our best ingredients and flavours on the plate when it comes to giving visitors the experiences they want and Limerick will surely deliver this through this initiative.”

The Pigtown Food Series takes place in September and October 2017 across Limerick. For further details visit www.pigtown.ie or search #PigtownLimerick or ‘Pigtown Food Series’ on social media.

]]>http://nigeldugdale.ie/2017/05/30/pigtown-food-series-celebrate-limericks-food-culture/feed/0Upgrade works begin on Great Southern Greenway Limerickhttp://nigeldugdale.ie/2017/05/26/upgrade-works-begin-great-southern-greenway-limerick/
http://nigeldugdale.ie/2017/05/26/upgrade-works-begin-great-southern-greenway-limerick/#respondFri, 26 May 2017 11:37:43 +0000http://nigeldugdale.ie/?p=1888Infrastructure enhancement works are to begin on the Great South Greenway Limerick (GSGL) in the west of the county following the signing of contracts between Limerick City and County Council and Roadbridge Ltd. The works involve the replacement of 20 farm crossing gate sets along the 39 kilometre route, which originally catered more for walkers …

]]>Infrastructure enhancement works are to begin on the Great South Greenway Limerick (GSGL) in the west of the county following the signing of contracts between Limerick City and County Council and Roadbridge Ltd.

The works involve the replacement of 20 farm crossing gate sets along the 39 kilometre route, which originally catered more for walkers than cyclists.

Great Southern Greenway route

The new gate and cattle grid arrangements will allow cyclists to cycle comfortably travel the route without having to dismount the bike at each farm crossing, thus converting the trail to a greenway.

Works will also include provision of three kilometres of fencing and provision of staggered gates at 10 road crossings.

The current Great Southern Greenway runs for 39km from Rathkeale to the Kerry border near Abbeyfeale. It was originally developed by the Great Southern Trail Company who held the license from Iarnrod Eireann. Limerick City and County Council took over the license and responsibility for the Greenway in December 2015.

The current contract valued at €150,000 is phase one of plans for the Great Southern Greenway Limerick.

Future developments of the Greenway include:

New signage for the entire route which is currently at tender stage

The extension of the Greenway by 3km from Rathkeale to Ballingarrane. It is intended to carry out these works this year.

Limerick City and County Council is currently at design stage for the incorporation of the Barnagh Tunnel and viewing area onto the Great Southern Greenway Limerick which involves the provision of an underpass under the N21. This will add a further 1.3km onto the Greenway.

A longer term plan includes carrying out a feasibility study to extend the GSGL from Rathkeale into Limerick city and up to Montpellier.

Kerry County Council is currently looking at the potential of extending the Great Southern Greenway to Listowel and hopefully onto Tralee in the future.

Leo Varadkar who officially opened a new section of The Great Southern Trail in Abbeyfeale, County Limerick. The 3-kilometre walking and cycling trail runs along the old Limerick to Tralee railway line from the West Limerick town to the Kerry County boundary at Kilmorna, and represents an extension of the existing 38km of trail that runs to Abbeyfeale via Newcastle West and Rathkeale.The Great Southern Trail has been developed by Limerick County Council and the Great Southern Trail Group Ltd. with support from various public bodies including the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport, Filte Ireland, West Limerick Resources and CIE. our picture shows Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar cycling on the New Track Pictured Credit Brian Gavin Press 22

Minister for Tourism and Sport Patrick O’Donovan TD said: “As Minister for Tourism I’m delighted to be able to announce the works on the newly named Great Southern Greenway from Rathkeale to Abbeyfeale, through Ardagh, Newcastle West and Templeglantine. This is a good news story for West Limerick and now that the Great Southern Trail, which has now been renamed the Great Southern Greenway has the potential to play a much bigger role on the development of Tourism in the West Limerick area.”

“When complete, this will also provide greater opportunities for local people to get involved in cycling, running and walking in the local area, something as Minister for Sport I am always trying to promote.”

Brian Kennedy, Head of Tourism Development with Limerick City and County Council said: “The Great Southern Greenway Limerick is a fantastic resource. These works will improve the route for users and make it much more attractive for cyclists.”

“I would like to pay tribute to the Great Southern Trail Limited who , for years, have worked tirelessly on the development and upkeep of the trail and its promotion on a national and international basis. The current popularity of the route is as a result of their hard work.”

“We have plans to upgrade the Greenway even further to make it even more attractive for tourists both near and far. This is a sector we have highlighted as a growth area and we will be working with all stakeholders to enhance the Great Southern Greenway Limerick for the benefit of the county.”

Conor Gilligan, Managing Director of Roadbridge Ltd, which won the tender to carry out the enhancement works said: “Roadbridge are delighted to be awarded the construction of this very exciting and forward-thinking greenway project. We recognise that this piece of infrastructure will add greatly to the economy of West Limerick and North Kerry and indeed will play a big part in enhancing the tourism potential of this region.”

“As a company which operates all over the world we are especially pleased to be once again working in our home county. We look forward to liaising with all landowners along the route and working in partnership with all stakeholders to ensure that this greenway is delivered to the satisfaction of all concerned at the earliest possible date.”

]]>http://nigeldugdale.ie/2017/05/26/upgrade-works-begin-great-southern-greenway-limerick/feed/0Catherine St – Limericks ugly duckling?http://nigeldugdale.ie/2017/05/24/catherine-st-limericks-ugly-duckling/
http://nigeldugdale.ie/2017/05/24/catherine-st-limericks-ugly-duckling/#respondWed, 24 May 2017 09:41:25 +0000http://nigeldugdale.ie/?p=1865Over the past week all eyes have been on O’Connell St as preliminary works commenced in the lead up to a significant investment due to happen on the street in the coming months. This blog along with other portals have already looked at the O’Connell St revitalisation project. Final designs are yet to be announced. …

]]>Over the past week all eyes have been on O’Connell St as preliminary works commenced in the lead up to a significant investment due to happen on the street in the coming months.

This blog along with other portals have already looked at the O’Connell St revitalisation project. Final designs are yet to be announced. That story is for another day.

Last weekend I found myself engaging in a conversation about Catherine St, that other key street in the city centre. One of those I engaged with described the street as ‘the ugly duckling of Limerick’s streets’. I took a walk.

Not too long ago Catherine St had a certain reputation. It was a long street full of Georgian potential but it had a sense of a forgotten place. Day in, day out we read reports of the scourge of prostitution on the street. Its buildings were in a sorry state.

Then Uber arrived.

With all the talk about the Opera Site, the International Gardens, Colbert Station, Cleeves and the City Quays, Catherine St has been the silent phoenix in terms of urban renewal in Limerick city.

A cultural shift is underway at the moment in Limerick, probably driven by Uber and other employers. There are young, talented professionals coming to Limerick from countries where city centre living is the norm and they want to live near their workplace.

They have little interest in living in the suburbs and commuting into town. Catherine Street and the surrounding streets are attractive for this demographic.

Reports in the recent past have suggested that the Living City initiative has had little or no impact on our city centre.

A stroll up Catherine St would suggest something different. From one end to the other we are seeing ‘sale agreed’ signs pop up. Already at least four individual Georgian houses on the street have been tastefully brought back to life. On the grapevine I hear more is to come.

Uber’s Limerick HQ

Then we look at the business and hospitality aspect of the street. Uber is now there. Starbucks is too. One of Limerick’s most popular cafes Canteen is set to relocate to the street very shortly. Jerry Flannery is ready to extend his popular bar to include a music venue.

Rumour has is that the former Desmond Arms site is ready for redevelopment. Rocky O’Shea, a popular publican with his finger on the Limerick pulse, is in the process of bringing the former Daffy’s pub back to life.

Finally, add in the fact that Catherine St is set to become a key link between the city centre and the newly developed Colbert Station.

Taking all of this into account and simply walking the street it is clear that something really positive is happening to Catherine St right under our noses.

Buildings like this are being tastefully restored

The Catherine St rebirth has happened with little fanfare. It has probably happened due to one major factor – the new demand for city centre accommodation means that rents in the city centre are higher than they have ever been.

Traditionally in the last 40 years the suburban estates commanded the highest rents, but now the city centre is doing so because of the likes of Uber, Glass Lewis, WP Engine and a number of smaller companies basing themselves in its core.

This is creating an economic incentive for property owners to renovate old buildings and chase this market.

Catherine Street is not a thoroughfare for traffic. Indeed, it has no role whatsoever from a traffic perspective. This makes it a somewhat calmer environment.

But we must not become complacent when looking at the street. Catherine Street remains an unappealing space and will remain so until a few significant changes are made. This is where the City Council must play its part.

A strong argument could be made for engaging in a meaningful conversation around Catherine St as a less traffic orientated street. Let’s be honest, you’re far more likely to want to purchase a Georgian building, or rent a flat in one, if you can walk out your front door onto a quiet, calm street rather than onto one dominated by cars.

A street lined with cars and ghastly overhead wires

The street is currently treated as a linear car park with approximately 26 car parking spaces per block, making it visually unattractive. The footpaths are narrow in contrast with comfortable and visually appealing Upper Thomas Street since the public realm work was completed there.

Then we have the long discussed needs to banish the unsightly overhead wires and ill-fitting light poles. Whilst this might take some investment, the overall aesthetic improvement is one this elegant street deserves.

The exciting thing about Catherine St is it seems to be a place that is by itself slowly reacting to the other Council-led commercial plans and developments. Perhaps now is the time to give it a more official helping hand?

Check out this video and Irish Times article by Frank McDonald from 2014 where he highlights some of the issues and mourns the street’s demise:

]]>http://nigeldugdale.ie/2017/05/24/catherine-st-limericks-ugly-duckling/feed/0The brain drain caused by poor public transport – a Limerick case studyhttp://nigeldugdale.ie/2017/03/30/brain-drain-caused-poor-public-transport-limerick-case-study/
http://nigeldugdale.ie/2017/03/30/brain-drain-caused-poor-public-transport-limerick-case-study/#respondThu, 30 Mar 2017 14:29:43 +0000http://nigeldugdale.ie/?p=1750Earlier in the week, I wrote a piece suggesting that Bus Eireann need to radically rethink their route structure in Limerick city before public transport is anywhere near become the go-to method of transport here. Following the post going on social media I was contacted by Shane Hickey. Shane’s story was one I really wanted …

Following the post going on social media I was contacted by Shane Hickey. Shane’s story was one I really wanted to capture.

Shane on his way to work (by bus) in London

Now based in London, Shane grew up in Cratloe. His secondary education was initially in Dublin but he eventually found himself back in Limerick where he attended Villiers on the North Circular Road.

“I remember in those days, commuting into the city when I was in school was almost impossible as home was over a mile from the Ennis Road Radisson Blu bus stop. The buses were unreliable at best”, he tells me.

Shane went on to study Irish Heritage & Tourism in Cork. After several years of unemployment and temporary jobs he decided to give London a shot and arrived in January 1994.

“I secured a job almost immediately and worked in varying industries until I decided to return to Limerick in January 2003”, he says.

It was around this time that public transport and its availability became crucial part of Shane’s life.

In July 2002 he was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a degenerative eye condition, and as a result was forced to give up driving.

Having worked as a travelling sales representative at one stage the diagnosis was a blow. Shane is now for the most part dependent on public transport in order to get around.

“When I returned home in 2003 I moved to Glenbrook on the Old Singland Road as Cratloe was not an option in terms of transport”, he tells me.

“This was not too far from the stop on the Childers Road and was ok for my commute to Castletroy where I worked. However, the buses were so unreliable, I would often have to take a taxi”, he adds.

Shane would regularly finish work at around 4pm and still be waiting for a bus close to 5.30. A guy who is not afraid to take issues on, he was consistently fobbed off by drivers with tales of heavy traffic – excuses in Shane’s opinion.

“I would regularly see three buses arriving at UL at exactly the same time. On another occasion, I was required to be at a meeting in Killarney for 9am one morning, only to find that NO bus was leaving from Limerick that would get you there for that time!”, he remembers.

Shane’s tells me his interactions with various bus drivers were ‘never good’.

“Drivers would get aggressive if you asked why the bus was so late or the last one cancelled. I eventually gave up trying to argue”, he says.

“If a ticket inspector got on a bus, I would immediately query the fictional time table with them and often heard others doing the same. I also queried why Annacotty, most of Dooradoyle and all the estates in Raheen were not served by a bus service other than the one that has existed since the 70s.

The response? Shane was told it would be impossible to implement such changes as the drivers would strike due to a timetable and route change and demand extra money.

Poor public transport – a cause of emigration?

Shane eventually not only gave up arguing but gave up on Limerick as a place where he could live his life comfortably.

“I realised that I would never be able to get around the country easily and moving to Dublin really wasn’t an option so I returned to London where I now work for a legal service provider in Canary Wharf, the main financial district of London”, he says.

Shane’s experience in terms of transport in London is a far removed from what he experienced back home.

“I take various routes to get to work including the tube and the river bus”, he says.

“These are always busy but at least on the tube you never wait more than 3 minutes and the river bus is at least every 30 minutes”.

I ask Shane if he would consider returning to work in Limerick at some point. His response is a sad one.

“I really love Limerick but I don’t see myself ever living there again. I miss it from time to time but one weekend of waiting around for lifts and taxis is enough for me”.

A new home – Shane living happily in London

Shane doesn’t get back home as much as he used to. In fact, it was last weekend that he returned for the first time since his father died back in 2015.

“I did have a blast but it was pricey. I had to pay €30 for a taxi from Shannon to the city centre and this was discounted. Going out to the Crescent was two taxis and another €20. I stayed in a hotel in the city centre to avoid taxis altogether”, he says.

So what would Shane’s top three solutions be if he were in a position to address the public transport system in Limerick?

“I would take away all the complications on the timetable. You would need a masters to figure the things out. If it is complicated for a regular user can you imagine what it’s like for a tourist?”, he says.

“I would also expand the routes to include all the new estates as well as starting to run the busses earlier for people who work in Raheen but live in Dooradoyle or Caherdavin”.

“Finally I would try to ensure that the expensive new “bus arriving” signs are matched up with the bus actually arriving! They can do this in London with 30,000 buses, why can’t they do this with the 20 or so in Limerick?!”.

My final question for Shane is futile considering the conversation previous but I ask him – does he feel the Irish bus strike is in any way justified?

“No, the bus strike is greed”, he responds.

“They’ve seen what the Dublin Bus and Luas drivers were able to achieve and they want the same. Bus Eireann has never been run for the benefit of the travelling public but for the benefit of the employees of the firm. This dates back decades and the only solution is to let the business fail and sell the routes to private companies (without public money being used)”.

What hits me most about Shane’s story is the fact that he was forced to become a public transport user due to his eye conditions. His experiences certainly don’t give confidence to those who might advocate for public transport to become the transport mode of choice in years to come.

The word that seems to stick out the most for me in this debate is the word ‘service’. I look up its definition:

Service: the action of helping or doing work for someone.

Bus Eireann certainly didn’t help Shane in recent years and as a result Limerick has lost a young, educated member of our community.